In light of the recent passage of the Anti-Secession Law by China’s National People’s Congress, Chairman of International Relations Committee Henry Hyde and the Committee’s ranking member Tom Lantos introduced H.Con.Res.98 last night along with a handful committee members, expressing grave concerns about this provocative action by the Chinese. The resolution will be passed this afternoon with the suspension calendar.

(1) the anti-secession law of the People’s Republic of China provides a legal justification for the use of force against Taiwan, altering the status quo in the region, and thus is of grave concern to the United States;

(2) the President of the United States should direct all appropriate officials of the United States Government to reflect the grave concern with which the United States views the passage of China’s anti- secession law in particular, and the growing Chinese military threats to Taiwan in general, to their counterpart officials in the Government of the People’s Republic of China;

(3) the Government of the United States should reaffirm its policy that the future of Taiwan should be resolved by peaceful means and with the consent of the people of Taiwan; and (4) the Government of the United States should continue to encourage dialogue between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China.

FAPA President Ming-chi Wu, Ph.D. says, “The introduction of H.Con.Res.98 followed by its passage on the House floor today was expected and due. The Chinese embassy in the U.S. has repeatedly rejected Chairman Hyde and others’ request for the text of the Anti-Secession Law. The government of China then passed the legislation dismissing continued warnings from the United States.”

Wu continues: “The passage of H.Con.Res.98 seems to serve the similar purpose as H.Res.57, a resolution passed prior to President Bush’s trip to Europe, urging the EU to maintain its arms embargo on China. H.Con.Res 98 sends a strong message to China that the United States is extremely concerned about the Anti-Secession Law because the law has seriously compromised the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and American security interests in the region. This resolution gives a strong backing for Secretary Rice during her first visit to China as Secretary of State.”